Did you ever wish you could sample the cuisine at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival – without walking all the way around World Showcase? Or get a little closer to celebs like singer Taylor Dayne or Chef Keegan Gerhard from TV’s Food Network? All the while sipping wine, beer and spirits? Anyone for a Singapore-Singapore Sling or a strawberry-balsamic martini? Sign me up.

If this is your idea of a good time, make a reservation for the First Bites Opening Reception 6:30-9 p.m. Sept. 30 at the Festival Welcome Center. They’re limiting attendance to 400 to ensure a good time – and you can get a jump start on all the festival fun. And it only happens this one night.

Think of it as a mini Food & Wine Fest, with culinary demos, wine seminars, cookbook authors and more… your opportunity to take it all in. Marketplace tastes include lots of the new dishes for 2010: USA’s bison chili with wild mushrooms, Belgium’s steamed mussels with roasted garlic, South Korea’s lettuce wraps with roast pork and kimchi slaw . . . you’ll navigate 10 savory stations just steps from each other. And then there are the sweets, with four new desserts, from pecan bread pudding to Belgium waffles with berries, and loads of chocolate.

Donna on August 30th, 2010 at 10:30 am

As much as I’d like to, this one event is a bit too pricey for me. We have purchased tickets to a few of the F&W Festival’s low-cost Culinary demos & seminars, though. Anyone have feedback on those from previous years? I’m hoping they will be fun & informative. Along with those, and cruising the World Showcase sampling all the wonderful food, it should be lots of fun!

2

Alison on August 30th, 2010 at 10:54 am

I was just there at the end of July/beginning of August and will be there then at the end of October/beginning of November and again in December. Not sure I can fit in another trip! But you know I would be there if I could!

3

Amy from RI on August 30th, 2010 at 11:07 am

We always try to make it to the Food and Wine Festival every year! What a wonderful relaxed day touring EPCOT and enjoying different foods, wines and cheeses! The classes are always relaxing and fun. Seeing this post makes me a bit dissapointed we had to change our trip this year to next may because I’m expecting! Everyone Enjoy this year who is going! Cheers!

4

Jena on August 30th, 2010 at 12:09 pm

9/30 is our 10th wedding anniversary … and last year we spent our 9th wedding anniversary at Food & Wine … not able to make it to the World this year … wish our timing was better – sounds like so much fun!

5

Mandi from NY on August 30th, 2010 at 12:37 pm

I called yesterday and they have no openings available.

Pam Brandon on August 30th, 2010 at 12:57 pm

There are plenty of seats still available — not sure what happened, but try again!

6

Mandi from NY on August 30th, 2010 at 1:00 pm

Thanks, I will!!

7

jeff from FL on August 30th, 2010 at 3:11 pm

donna ,ihave attended some of the seminars the last few years.some have been real good and some average.if this is your first time at the food and wine festival,the food samplings around the world showcase are great.my favorites are the escargot in france and the sausage on a pretzal roll in germany.

8

Bronwynn from FL on August 30th, 2010 at 5:44 pm

My hubby and I will be there for the F&W Festival in October! We have not ever attended where we both could enjoy all the offerings (I was prego last time). We can’t wait!

9

Debbie on August 30th, 2010 at 8:02 pm

We make it a point to attend every year. Everyting I’ve tried has been delicious, but my absolute favorite is China’s “green tea plum wine cooler”. I was a bit disappointed last year, though, because they were sold out of cookbooks before I had the chance to buy one (I searched everywhere!).

10

Amy from MI on August 31st, 2010 at 6:28 am

At the end of October my family and I will be at the world for the first time. I was excited to learn of the F&W festival occuring during my visit. Just wondering if any of you frequent visitor can tell me what I should not miss at the F&W festival!

11

Mandi from NY on August 31st, 2010 at 9:06 am

Just called the festival #407-WDW-Fest (again) and the operator had no clue what I was talking about, he told me to book it online.. is there another # I can book this??

Featured Video

Comment Policy

Thanks for visiting the Disney Parks Blog. We welcome your comments. Please understand that this is a moderated blog. Blog comments will be reviewed prior to posting. As a result, there will be a delay in the posting of comments. Not all comments will be posted. Comments may also be removed after they are posted.